Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 02-01-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3008	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	2	Arriva NW&W
4642	Chester BS	Shotton B&Q (NW-bound)	10A	Arriva NW&W
4644	Shotton, Ash Grove	Queensferry, Station Road Q4	10A	Arriva NW&W
4479	Queensferry, Solar Services (S-bound)	Lache, o/s Brewery Arms PH	3	Arriva NW&W
3141	Lache, St Mark's Road (cnr)	Broughton, Glynne Arms (SW-bound)	3	Arriva NW&W
672	Broughton, Glynne Arms (NE-bound)	Chester BS	12	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to revisit Ellesmere Port & Chester. We had checked the weather, and although rain was forecast throughout our usual area, It appeared to be slightly better to the North West. We gave Matthew a list of place from this area and from the list Matthew chose Ellesmere Port & Chester. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:00 today, as mum had a task to carry out as we went along Magdalen Road we saw First Potteries 53041 on a #23A to Hanley. We joined the A5035 and we then turned right into Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the Westbound A50 and then we went Northwards up the A500. We came off the A500 at Etruria and we saw Roseville ML08 ODU coming down from Basford. We turned right onto the A53 and we turned left again onto Forge Lane. We turned left onto Shelton Boulevard and we waited for a few minutes. Mum had promised to help out a charity fundraiser to find which was messiest, cake or trifle. After mum had finised we drove back to the A53 and onto the Northbound A500. As we went towards the motorway we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 520 going the other way. We joined the M6 and the traffic was lighter than usual. As we travel Northwards we passed a Tyrers tri-axle coach going South. There was a bit of a slow down opposite an accident between junctions 19 & 20 and then we left the M6 to go West on the M56. It was probably the quietest we had ever seen the M56 and we got to The M53 quickly. We went North one junction and we came off onto the A5032 for the run into town. We turned into Civic Way and as we passed the bus station we saw GHA R839 PRG on the #36 and T314 UOX on the #7 service. We parked up and we went to the market to use the toilet and to have dinner. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked back to the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27776 on a X8 to Liverpool. As we got into the bus station we saw required Arriva NW&W 3008 on the #2 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 3008 in Ellesmere Port bus station

We got on the bus and we booked Arriva Deeside Day Savers at £4.50 each before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Civic Way. At the end we turned left onto the A5032 traveling Southwards. We turned right onto Overpoll Road and we weaved through the estate before we came out on the A41. We traveled South before turning right onto the A5116. We passed the Countess of Chester hospital and we ran into town past the Stagecoach depot where one of the open top double deckers was visible. We crossed the ring road and we entered the bus station via Northgate Street and Hunter Street. When the bus went on stand we waited for the bus to empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 3008.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3008

Behind us in the bus station was required Stagecoach Merseyside 27268 on layover between Liverpool services.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27268 in Chester bus station

We walked down to Matthew's usual perch and we took a few bus pictures whilst we waited to catch the next bus. We saw Arriva NW&W 5008 on a #21 to Halton hospital.

Arriva NW&W 5008 in Chester bus station

This was followed by required Townlynx Y72 YSO on a T1 service to Holywell.

Townlynx Y72 YSO in Chester bus station

An unusual sighting was GHA Solo T313 UOX on a #82 to Northwich.

GHA T313 UOX in Chester bus station

This service is usually worked by some large like a full size single decker or even a double decker. We also saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27779 running out of service after arriving from Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27779 in Chester bus station

On the end stand we saw required double decker Arriva NW&W 4642 on a #10A to Holywell, so we decided to do it.

Arriva NW&W 4642 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Deeside Day Saver tickets to the driver. We also purchased another ticket so that Matthew could travel into Wales. We went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto the ring road. We turned right into Northgate and then left into Delamere Street. We continued down onto Gorse Stacks and then right into Frodsham Street. We turned left into Foregate Street and then right onto Love Street. This was the first time we had been this way on a #10A service. The #10A goes through the town on the way to Holywell and the #10 goes straight down the ring road to A548. As we went down Pepper Street we saw National Holidays NH11 HTH and Alfa coach 73. We turned right at the Grosvenor roundabout and we turned right onto the ring road again before turning left onto the A548 and getting back onto the normal route. Traffic was nose to tail as we went along Sealand Road past the retail park until we got to the park and ride site we started to go a bit quicker. We crossed into Wales and we ran quickly up to the A494, where we crossed the road and went into Garden City. We crossed the river Dee and we turned right onto the B5129. We had already decided that we were going to get off by the old B&Q stop where there is a petrol station that we visit to pick up supplies. A few stops further up the road we got up and got off the road. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4642 as it carried on towards Holywell.

Arriva NW&W 4642 in Shotton

We saw both the #10 and the #11 going towards Chester so we thought we might have a long wait. We went to use the cash at the petrol station but I balked at the £1.99 charge to use the machine. So we went inside the shop and Matthew chose his pop and chocolate and I paid by card. As we were crossing the road we saw Townlynx Y213 BAW on a Chester bound T1 service. We walked toward Shotton one stop as we would also have a choice of the #12 service as well. The next bus due was a #12 service. Matthew had a drink of Irn Bru and he shared his double Milky Way bar with me and uncle Dave. Unexpectedly, a late running #10A service appeared. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 4644.

Arriva NW&W 4644 in Shotton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Deeside Day Saver tickets to the driver before going upstairs. We sat down and the bus set off Westwards along the B5129. There were a couple of young folk messing about at the front of the bus and we wanted to be on the Saltney Ferry corridor where there are generally more interesting buses working. So we decided to do the bus only to Queensferry. As we were getting off soon Matthew took a picture of the empty bus behind us.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4644

The bus turned the corner left onto the B5441 and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4644 before it carried on towards Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4644 in Queensferry

We walked back onto the B5129 and we waited at the stop opposite to the Asda superstore. We saw a white Solo turn the corner into the B5441 with Shuttle on the side working the D1 service. A few minutes later we saw the #11 approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 4479.

Arriva NW&W 4479 in Queensferry

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Deeside Day Saver Tickets to the driver before going upstairs. This was a bus that we first had back in June 2012 from Chester to Queensferry. The bus went under the A494 and we climbed the hill up the A550 into Harwarden village. We turned left onto the B5125 and traveled East through the countryside up to Broughton. We entered the Broughton Shopping park and we stopped briefly before joining the A5104. We went fast up to Saltney and we entered England under the railway bridge. We got off the bus in Lache outside the Brewery Arms and we went inside so that Matthew could use the toilet. We brought a can of Pepsi from the bar before we left. We crossed the road so that we could wait for another bus back up the A5104 corridor. We didn't have to wait long before we saw a single decker. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 3141.

Arriva NW&W 3141 in Lache

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Deeside Day Saver tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. These buses are usually full at this point and we noticed there were empty seats behind us, so Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3141

The bus carried on along the A5104 and out into the open countryside. As we saw the Airbus factory on the right hand side of the road we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3141 as it carried on towards Mold.

Arriva NW&W 3141 in Broughton

It was now fully dark and we decided that the next bus was going to be our last one of the day. We crossed the road and we checked the bus stop to see what service was the next one back towards Chester. The next bus back was a #12 which was almost certainly going to be a Solo. We had already seen a couple of different required Solo knocking about today including Arriva NW&W 675 named 'Les Rimmer' with its silver nameplate on the front of the bus. We saw a Solo enter the Broughton Shopping Park from the other end and it called at the mini bus station in the park. Behind it was a double decker on a #11. We watched the bus get closer and we eventually saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 672.

Arriva NW&W 672 in Broughton

We flashed the Arriva Deeside Day Saver tickets at the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along the A5104 through Saltney Ferry and Saltney and over the border into England. We passed through Lache and we turned left onto the A483 ans we crossed over the river Dee and ran towards town. At the ring road we went left and up a few hundres yards towards the Western entrance of the bus station. On the way we saw Westway coach 27 WT at the side of the ring road. We turned right into Princess Street and we entered the bus station. We left the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside Arriva NW&W 672.

Inside Arriva NW&W 672

Before we walked over to mum we decided to take a few last bus pictures. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 21266 on a #31 Sealand park & ride service.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21266 in Chester bus station

We also saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27258 which was bout to work a #1 to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27258 in Chester bus station

Another sighting was Stagecoach Merseyside 34579 which was on a #53 to Kingsway.

Stagecoach Merseyside 34579 in Chester bus station

We met up with mum and then Matthew went to the toilet whilst mum got the parking ticket validated (parking in the market car park is free after 15:00). We got in the car and Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll washed down with a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park and onto the clockwise ring road and we ran around to the A56. As we passed nearby to the railway station we saw Arriva NW&W 4405 on the #1 to Wrexham. We ran up the A56 through Hoole where the Christmas lights were still on and we joined the Northbound M53. It was raining and fully dark. We joined the Eastbound M56 and we ran up to the M6. traffic was quite busy and moving slower due to the spray. At Lymm We went South on the M6. As we traveled Southwards we saw a Waltons coach and Redline BJ63 UHW. At junction 16 we joined the Southbound A500. As we traveled South we saw Z Carz PY08 KDX and Intercity OV58 YJE. At Sideway we turned left onto the A50 which we did up to Longton. At the Z Carz depot we saw Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Also on the front row was Z Carz Ford minibus T418 WYJ.

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

Behind this was another Ford minibus, Z Carz GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

There were a couple of new unmarked minibuses there tonight. Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

And they were parked next to each other HK57 LFV.

Z Carz HK57 LFV in Longton

We turned left into Willow row to see what was in the compound tonight. Nearest to the gate was Airport transfer minibus MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

We turned around and we headed back onto the A50. We crossed over the road and we went to fill up with diesel at the petrol station. We then returned onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we went forwards onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 18:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30... Mark